Dave Kommel Photography

Dave Kommel Photography Photographic chronicles of a lifetime love of drag racing and land speed racing with a few birds and some wildlife thrown in for good measure!
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After falling in love with drag racing in 1960 reading Hot Rod, I finally made it to my first race at Union Grove WI in 1966 and it was all downhill from there. I started going to Irwindale, OCIR and Lions every weekend and once I started getting photo credentials around 1973, I started traveling to races, mainly on the west coast. In 1979, Richard Shute and I teamed up to form Auto Imagery and ov

er the next 35 years, we covered somewhere over a thousand events. Now that I am off the NHRA treadmill, I will be going to select events that pique my interest as well as continuing to scan and catalog my negs and slides from the 1970's. You can peruse and (hopefully) purchase my past and current work at www.davekommel.photoshelter.com

Richard is still on the NHRA trail and if you are looking to purchase photos from current NHRA national events, your first stop should be www.autoimagery.com. Dave Kommel Photography
PO Box 428
San Dimas CA 91773
818-519-7601 voice or text
[email protected]
instagram: dkfoto49
instagram: dkfoto49_nature

Late night and too much too do, but here's a small sample of Friday qualifying action at the IHRA Triple Crown event in ...
06/20/2026

Late night and too much too do, but here's a small sample of Friday qualifying action at the IHRA Triple Crown event in Columbus. Full gallery at competitionplus.com soon.

Here's a small sample from the Thursday testing at the first IHRA Triple Crown race at National Trail Raceway. Full gal...
06/19/2026

Here's a small sample from the Thursday testing at the first IHRA Triple Crown race at National Trail Raceway. Full gallery should be posted at www.competitionplus.com soon. Should be a great event. Come on out for qualifying on Friday and eliminations on Saturday.

Gary Hazen’s "Panic" Top Fuel dragster at the finish line at the 1975 NHRA Winston Finals at Ontario Motor Speedway.
06/17/2026

Gary Hazen’s "Panic" Top Fuel dragster at the finish line at the 1975 NHRA Winston Finals at Ontario Motor Speedway.

Lots of birding on our trip up north last week, but just haven't had the time to edit and post, but I'm working on it. ...
06/16/2026

Lots of birding on our trip up north last week, but just haven't had the time to edit and post, but I'm working on it. This group is from Wetlands Edge in American Canyon a week ago Sunday.

Gordie Bonin in Ron Hodgson’s Flo-Rite Pontiac Firebird at the 1981 March Meet.
06/16/2026

Gordie Bonin in Ron Hodgson’s Flo-Rite Pontiac Firebird at the 1981 March Meet.

Conditions at El Mirage aren't always conducive to shooting at the finish line, but today was an exception and I spent t...
06/14/2026

Conditions at El Mirage aren't always conducive to shooting at the finish line, but today was an exception and I spent the entire, albeit short, day at the finish line. Started early and finished 3 rounds by 10. My memory (unofficial, of course) tells me that Wayne Yurtin's Corvette was the fastest car of the day at 212 mph with Jim Hoogerhyde clocking the fastest bike time at 231 mph.

Nice day at El Mirage today. As expected, a light turnout so we got through 3 rounds. Jim Hoogerhyde has top speed so ...
06/14/2026

Nice day at El Mirage today. As expected, a light turnout so we got through 3 rounds. Jim Hoogerhyde has top speed so far at 238 mph in his electric streamliner and I'm pretty certain that Pat Womack was the fastest bike at 232 mph. We'll be back out there Sunday morning for more fun in the dirt!

Spent a short time out at El Mirage today. Doesn't look like a big turnout, so everyone should get all the runs they wa...
06/13/2026

Spent a short time out at El Mirage today. Doesn't look like a big turnout, so everyone should get all the runs they want over the next two days. Come on out and enjoy the action!

Larry Storck in the Storck Brothers AA/Gas Supercharged Opel GT at Irwindale in 1974.
06/12/2026

Larry Storck in the Storck Brothers AA/Gas Supercharged Opel GT at Irwindale in 1974.

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PO Box 428
San Dimas, CA
91773

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+18185197601

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